Curtain rod bracket and ring



P 1953 E. F. RAMSBEYRGER 2,852,586

CURTAIN ROD BRACKET AND RING Filed June 26, 1.951

INVEN TOR.

EL M52 1. RAMSBEE GEE A TTORNEXK Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CURTAIN ROD BRACKET AND RING Elmer F. Ramsberger, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 26, 1951, Serial No. 233,595

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to the devices commonly employed for the purpose of suspending a shower bath curtain in effective position and is concerned primarily with the locking of the ends in desired positions.

In modern homes it is common practice to provide the shower bath in the form of three walls which ordinarily are a part of the bathroom structure leaving the front open. This front is ordinarily provided with a curtain which should be extended completely thereacross when the bath is occupied and in use. If open spaces are left at either end of the curtain there is a possibility that water will escape around the ends of the curtain and thus impart to the bathroom a disorderly and sloppy appearance.

With the foregoing conditions in mind the present invention has in View as its foremost objective the provision of means for securely positioning each end of a shower bath curtain when the latter is extended into effective position.

It is common practice to support a rod between the two side walls of the shower bath stall with the rod extending across the top of the front of the stall. The upper edge of the shower bath curtain is ordinarily formed with a pluralty of openings, each of which is lined with a grommet and a ring is associated with each of these grommeted openings. The main body portion of the ring is slidably positioned on the rod and each ring carries a small hook-like portion that is engaged in one of the grommeted openings of the curtain. Each end of the rod is supported in position by a sheet metal fitting which consists essentially of a circular base that has a slight taper imparting a conical formation thereto and which base is secured to the wall. Outstanding from the base is a cylindrical portion which receives one end of the rod.

With the standard practice as above outlined another highly important object of the invention is to provide a fitting which is intended to support one end of a shower curtain rod from a wall and which fitting is formed with an annular groove that is adapted to receive the curtain supporting ring at the adjacent end of the curtain. When this ring is positioned in this groove it is held against longitudinal movement so as to efiectively hold that end of the curtain in closed position. With the same arrangement obtaining at the other end of the curtain it is evident that the two ends are effectively held so as to hold the curtain in extended position. Obviously the look at either end may be easily broken by simply lifting the ring out of the groove and sliding it along the rod in the usual manner.

Another somewhat more detailed object of the invention is to provide a slightly modified form of fitting in which the cylindrical portion thereof is provided with an annular rib or upraised flange which is adapted to be engaged by a curtain supporting ring to prevent movement of the latter.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above noted ideas in a practical embodiment will, in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a fitting that is adapted to support one end of a shower curtain rod from a wall. The fitting is generally of conventional shape in that it includes a circular base and a cylindrical portion outstanding therefrom which receives the shower rod. However, the fitting is also formed with means that is adapted to be engaged by a curtain supporting ring to hold the latter against movement. This means may take the form either of a groove which is located where the cylindrical portion is joined to the circular base or a rib that outstands from the cylindrical portion of the fitting.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a view in elevation of a conventional shower curtain supporting ring.

Figure 2 is another elevational showing with parts broken away and shown in section of one end of a shower curtain, the supporting rod therefor, and the fitting which supports that end of the rod.

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional showing taken on a plane normal to the axis of the rod. This view is taken about on the plane represented by the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 of a modification; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view being taken about on the plane represented by the line 55 of Figure l.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts and first more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and a shower curtain is partially illustrated in Figure 2 and identified by the reference character it. The curtain it has a top edge II and is formed with a series of openings I2 that are slightly spaced from the edge ll. Each of these openings 12 is ordinarily lined by a metallic grommet such as indicated at l3.

wall 19 a fitting Fis employed.

Cooperating with each of the openings 12 is a ring that is referred to in its entirety by the reference character R. These rings R may be made from any appropriate material such as metal or plastic. It happens that certain plastics are now being widely used for this purpose because of their flexibility. Thus, plastic is indicated as the preferred material from which the rings R are made.

Each'ringR includes a main body portion 14 that is almost a complete circle there being an interrupted portion which provides a mouth at I5 that affords access to the rod receiving openportion I1 that is adapted to be' r'ec'eived in -one of the grommeted openings l2 The end of the bill of the book which is indicated at E8 is spaced from the main body portion I4 thus permitting the hooks to be readily positioned in the openings 12.

" The wall of a. bathroom which ordinarily'occurs at one side of ashower bath stall is repre- 'sented at I9 in Figure 2. It will be understood that there'is another similar wall at the other end of the shower bath stall.- Between these two walls a curtain supporting rod extends. This rod 20 may be of any preferred construction or of any de'sired'material. As illustrated in the may be takenas the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In ordertoanehor'one'end'of the rod 20 to the It will be understood" that another: similar fitting F will be utilized in securing the'otherend of the rod 20 to the wall thereat.

"The fitting-F is preferably made of sheet metal and "comprises a'circular base 2| which has a slight taper'that imparts to the'base a conical shape.

The'base 2 I may be secured to the wall 19 in any preferred manner although the invention has particularly in mind the use of the diametrically opposite openings which receive the screw fasteners" 22. These screw fasteners 22 are headed and the stems thereof are embedded in the wall l9.

"' "Between the cylindrical wall 23 and the'base 2| the fitting F is formed with an annular groove 25. :It is this groove 25 whichis the very heart of'the present invention and the novel feature which distinguishes the fitting F over the fittings heretofore known and used for this purpose. When the shower curtain I0 is extended into effective position the ring R at the end of the curta'inis' received 'in this groove 25 as illustrated in Figure 2 to hold the end of the curtain against longitudinal movement. With the same condition obtaining at the other end of the curtain it is obvious that the curtain will be effectively held in its extended position across the open front er the shower bath.

drawing the rod20 is a metallic tubular rod which -comp1ishes the same purpose of providing a lock for holding a ring at one end of the shower bath curtain against longitudinal movement. ing 16. Each ring R also includes a hook-like1 T includes-:th'e -base 2| and the cylindrical wall 23 of the fitting F. However, this cylindrical wall 23"is formed at its inner end with an upraised rib or flange 26. This rib 26 is the heart of the in vention so far as the fitting Fl is concerned. It is formed by a metal drawing operation and preferably takes the form of a rounded bead with the angle of approach 'to the bead on the outer side being more gradual than on the inner side. It is evident that the ring R at the end of the shower curtain may be easily slid along the rod 20 over the cylindrical'w'all 23 and then over the rib 26 after which gravity action will cause it to be lowered into the'position illustrated in the drawing which is heldagainst longitudinal movement; When it is desired to move the ring along the rod all-that is necessary is tolift it over the rib 2 B. While preferred specific embodiments of the invention arehereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limitedto the exact constructions, materials. and device'sillustrated and described because various 6 modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims. i What is claimed is:

1-. In combination, a shower curtain ring and a unitarysheet metal fitting adapted to support one end of a shower curtain rod from a wall, 'said'fitting being formed with an annular groove receiving said ring to hold the latter against movement.

2. In combination, a shower'curtain ring and a'unitar'y sheet metal fitting adapted to support one end of a shower curtain rod from a wall, said fitting including a circular base and a cylindrical 'wall outstanding therefrom, there being an annular groove between said base and cylindrical wall with the groove receiving said ring.

ELMER F. RAMSBERGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number vii. Y 

